Wheelbarrows and lawn carts.(Equipment)(Buyers Guide)

The Wheelbarrow Has Long been a staple tool for the home gardener. With only one wheel, this single piece of equipment makes it possible for even non-athletic folks to move heavy loads with relative ease.

Over the years, wheelbarrows have evolved to give gardeners even easier use. The traditional one-wheeled wheelbarrow has been joined by two-wheeled models that offer more stability when pushed into action. Newest on the scene is the lawn cart - with two and sometimes even four wheels - usually molded from hard plastic. As a lawn equipment category, wheelbarrows and lawn carts offer gardeners a variety of options and designs for a lifetime of service.

Before you purchase a wheelbarrow or lawn cart, think of the uses you may have for it in a year's time. You may need to transport a large load of sphagnum peat moss to the back yard today; in the summer you may want to lay a path of landscaping stones; and in the fall you could have a pile of tree branches and limbs that need to be moved to the firewood pile. Choose a wheelbarrow or lawn cart that …